PSL 2021, Match 1: Karachi Kings vs Quetta Gladiators - Babar Azam creates PSL record, Joe Clarke’s milestone, Arshad Iqbal’s feat and more stats

Karachi Kings defeated Quetta Gladiators quite comfortably in the season opener of Pakistan Super League 2021. Karachi Kings captain Imad Wasim won the toss and decided to bowl first in the match. Quetta team looked clueless while batting first and got bowled out for only 121 runs in 18.2 overs. 

In the chase, Karachi Kings lost their opener Sharjeel Khan in the very first over. However, Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Joe Clarke stitched an important 55-run partnership for the second wicket. Babar Azam scored 24 runs off 20 balls with the help of 3 fours. Karachi team won the match by 7 wickets chasing the target in only 13.5 overs. Mohammad Nabi played fine innings of 30 runs off only  14 balls and hit 3 sixes and 2 fours in his unbeaten knock. 

Let’s look at important stats and numbers from the first match of PSL 2021 :

1 – Babar Azam became the highest run-getter in PSL history after his 24-run knock. He now has 1540 runs in the league surpassing Kamran Akmal who has scored 1537 runs in PSL till now. Babar has hit 14 half-centuries in the league so far.

2 – For Karachi Kings, 20-year old Arshal Iqbal bowled brilliantly and took 3 wickets for only 16 runs in 4 overs. He became the second youngest bowler to take 3 wickets in an innings for Karachi Kings in PSL history. Earlier, Umer Khan had taken a 3-fer for the team when he was a 19-year old in 2019.

2 – Both the teams lost their first wickets in the very first over of the match. This is only a second instance in a PSL opener. Earlier, in the 2020 season opener, Colin Munro and Jason Roy were dismissed in the very first over playing for opposite teams. 

3 – Young English wicketkeeper Joe Clarke played a wonderful knock of 46 runs off 23 balls with the help of 6 fours and 3 sixes. He registered the third-highest score by a wicketkeeper while playing for Karachi Kings in Pakistan Super League. Kumar Sangakkara (65*) and Ben Dunk (49*) are ahead of Clarke.

2 – This was only the second instance in a PSL opener that a team was bowled out before 20 overs. Earlier it has happened in the 2020 season when Islamabad United were all out for 168 runs in 19.1 overs.